cousins…german。 For Aethra was daughter of Pittheus； and Alcmena of
Lysidice； and Lysidice and Pittheus were brother and sister；
children of Hippodamia and Pelops。 He thought it therefore a
dishonourable thing； and not to be endured； that Hercules should go
out everywhere； and purge both land and sea from wicked men； and he
himself should fly from the like adventures that actually came in
his way； disgracing his reputed father by a mean flight by sea； and
not showing his true one as good evidence of the greatness of his
birth by noble and worthy actions； as by the token that he brought
with him the shoes and the sword。
With this mind and these thoughts； he set forward with a design to
do injury to nobody； but to repel and revenge himself of all those
that should offer any。 And first of all； in a set combat； he slew
Periphetes； in the neighbourhood of Epidaurus； who used a club for his
arms； and from thence had the name of Corynetes； or the club…bearer；
who seized upon him； and forbade him to go forward in his journey。
Being pleased with the club； he took it； and made it his weapon；
continuing to use it as Hercules did the lion's skin； on whose
shoulders that served to prove how huge a beast he had killed； and
to the same end Theseus carried about him this club； overcome indeed
by him； but now in his hands； invincible。
Passing on further towards the Isthmus of Peloponnesus； he slew
Sinnis； often surnamed the Bender of Pines； after the same manner in
which he himself had destroyed many others before。 And this he did
without having either practised or ever learnt the art of bending
these trees； to show that natural strength is above all art。 This
Sinnis had a daughter of remarkable beauty and stature； called
Perigune； who； when her father was killed； fled； and was sought
after everywhere by Theseus； and coming into a place overgrown with
brushwood； shrubs； and asparagus…thorn； there； in a childlike innocent
manner； prayed and begged them； as if they understood her； to give her
shelter； with vows that if she escaped she would never cut them down
nor burn them。 But Theseus calling upon her； and giving her his
promise that he would use her with respect； and offer her no injury；
she came forth； and in due time bore him a son； named Melanippus；
but afterwards was married to Deioneus； the son of Eurytus； the
Oechalian； Theseus himself giving her to him。 Ioxus； the son of this
Melanippus； who was born to Theseus； accompanied Ornytus in the colony
that he carried with him into Caria； whence it is a family usage
amongst the people called Ioxids； both male and female； never to
burn either shrubs or asparagus…thorn； but to respect and honour them。
The Crommyonian sow； which they called Phaea； was a savage and
formidable wild beast； by no means an enemy to be despised。 Theseus
killed her； going out of his way on purpose to meet and engage her； so
that he might not seem to perform all his great exploits out of mere
necessity； being also of opinion that it was the part of a brave man
to chastise villainous and wicked men when attacked by them； but to
seek out and overcome the more noble wild beasts。 Others relate that
Phaea was a woman； a robber full of cruelty and lust； that lived in
Crommyon； and had the name of Sow given her from the foulness of her
life and manners； and afterwards was killed by Theseus。 He slew also
Sciron； upon the borders of Megara； casting him down from the rocks；
being； as most report； a notorious robber of all passengers； and； as
others add； accustomed； out of insolence and wantonness； to stretch
forth his feet to strangers commanding them to wash them； and then
while they did it； with a kick to send them down the rock into the
sea。 The writers of Megara； however； in contradiction to the
received report； and； as Simonides expresses it； 〃fighting with all
antiquity；〃 contend that Sciron was neither a robber nor doer of
violence； but a punisher of all such； and the relative and friend of
good and just men； for Aeacus； they say； was ever esteemed a man of
the greatest sanctity of all the Greeks； and Cychreus； the Salaminian；
was honoured at Athens with divine worship； and the virtues of
Peleus and Telamon were not unknown to any one。 Now Sciron was
son…in…law to Cychreus； father…in…law to Aeacus； and grandfather to
Peleus and Telamon； who were both of them sons of Endeis； the daughter
of Sciron and Chariclo； it was not probable； therefore； that the
best of men should make these alliances with one who was worst； giving
and receiving mutually what was of greatest value and most dear to
them。 Theseus； by their account； did not slay Sciron in his first
journey to Athens； but afterwards； when he took Eleusis； a city of the
Megarians； having circumvented Diocles； the governor。 Such are the
contradictions in this story。 In Eleusis he killed Cercyon； the
Arcadian； in a wrestling match。 And going on a little farther； in
Erineus； he slew Damastes； otherwise called Procrustes； forcing his
body to the size of his own bed； as he himself was used to do with all
strangers； this he did in imitation of Hercules； who always returned
upon his assailants the same sort of violence that they offered to
him； sacrificed Busiris； killed Antaeus in wrestling； and Cycnus in
single combat； and Termerus by breaking his skull in pieces （whence；
they say； comes the proverb of 〃a Termerian mischief〃）； for it seems
Termerus killed passengers that he met by running with his head
against them。 And so also Theseus proceeded in the punishment of
evil men； who underwent the same violence from him which they had
inflicted upon others； justly suffering after the manner of their
own injustice。
As he went forward on his journey； and was come as far as the
river Cephisus； some of the race of the Phytalidae met him and saluted
him； and upon his desire to use the purifications； then in custom；
they performed them with all the usual ceremonies； and； having offered
propitiatory sacrifices to the gods； invited him and entertained him
at their house； a kindness which； in all his journey hitherto； he
had not met。
On the eighth day of Cronius； now called Hecatombaeon； he arrived at
Athens； where he found the public affairs full of all confusion； and
divided into parties and factions； Aegeus also； and his whole
private family； labouring under the same distemper； for Medea；
having fled from Corinth； and promised Aegeus to make him； by her art；
capable of having children； was living with him。 She first was aware
of Theseus； whom as yet Aegeus did not know； and he being in years；
full of jealousies and suspicions； and fearing everything by reason of
the faction that was then in the city； she easily persuaded him to
kill him by poison at a banquet； to which he was to be invited as a
stranger。 He； coming to the entertainment； thought it not fit to
discover himself at once； but willing to give his father the
occasion of first finding him out； the meat being on the table； he
drew his sword as if he designed to cut with it； Aegeus； at once
recognising the token； threw down the cup of poison； and；
questioning his son； embraced him； and having gathered together all
his citizens； owned him publicly before them； who； on their part；
received him gladly for the fame of his greatness and bravery； and
it is said； that when the cup fell； the poison was spilt there where
now is the enclosed space in the Delphinium； for in that place stood
Aegeus's house； and the figure of Mercury on the east side of the
temple is called the Mercury of Aegeus's gate。
The sons of Pallas； who before were quiet upon expectation of
recovering the kingdom after Aegeus's death； who was without issue； as
soon as Theseus appeared and was acknowledged the successor； highly
resenting that Aegeus first； an adopted son only of Pandion； and not
at all related to the family of Erechtheus； should be holding the
kingdom； and that after him； Theseus； a visitor and stranger； should
be destined to succeed to it； broke out into open war。 And dividing
themselves into two companies； one part of them marched openly from
Sphettus； with their father； against the city； the other； hiding
themselves in the village of Gargettus； lay in ambush； with a design
to set upon the enemy on both sides。 They had with them a crier of the
township of Agnus； named Leos； who discovered to Theseus all the
designs of the Pallantidae。 He immediately fell upon those that lay in
ambuscade； and cut them all off； upon tidings of which Pallas and
his company fled and were dispersed。
From hence they say is derived the custom among the people of the
township of Pallene to have no marriages or any alliance with the
people of Agnus； nor to suffer the criers to pronounce in their
proclamations the words used in all other parts of the country；
Acouete Leoi （Hear ye people）； hating the very sound of Leo； because
of the treason of Leos。
Theseus； longing to be in action； and desirous also to make
himself popular； left Athens to fight with the bull of Marathon； which
did no small mischief to the inhabitants of Tetrapolis。 And having
overcome it； he brought it alive in triumph through the city； and
afterwards sacrificed it to the Delphinian Apollo。 The story of
Hecale； also； of her receiving and entertaining Theseus in this
expedition； seems to be not altogether void of truth； for the
townships round about； meeting upon a certain day； used to offer a
sacrifice which they called Hecalesia； to Jupiter Hecaleius； and to
pay honour to Hecale； whom； by a diminutive name； they called
Hecalene； because she； while entertaining Theseus； who was quite a
youth； addressed him； as old people do； with similar endearing
diminutives； and having made a vow to Jupiter for him as he was
going to the fight； that； if he returned in safety； she would offer
sacrifices in thanks of it； and dying before he came back； she had
these honours given her by way of return for her hospitality； by the
command of Theseus； as Philochorus tells us。
Not long after arrived the third time from Crete the collectors of
the tribute which the Athenians paid them upon the following occasion。
Androgeus having been treacherously murdered in the confines of
At